| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. | 1Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder, |
| 2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. | 2so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. |
| 3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. | 3First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, |
| 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." | 4saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." |
| 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. | 5They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. |
| 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. | 6Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. |
| 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. | 7But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. |
| 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. | 8Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. |
| 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. | 9The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. |
| 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. | 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. |
| 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives | 11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness |
| 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. | 12as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. |
| 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. | 13But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. |
| 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. | 14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. |
| 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. | 15Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. |
| 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. | 16He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. | 17Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. |
| 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. | 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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